Straus joins Statesman staff
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

Hello, my name is Nathan Straus. I'm a big fellow with sometimes short, sometimes long, black hair. More consistent is my love of writing.

As of Monday, I am the newest addition to the Chandler and Brownsboro Statesman and I must say it's good to get out of the Dallas area. I live in Tyler, having just moved to my apartment last week, and commute every morning, relying on the beautiful scenery to wake me. The rush of the cars as they pass on the other side of the road helps.

I came to Brownsboro to get a job in media, and The Statesman is a perfect place to start my career in journalism. I can't remember when it was I found I loved to write, but I do know where I chose my path.

Born in Farmer's Branch, I was raised in a Christian home since my first day on earth. I learned to put value on the peace and quiet so healthy to a growing mind early on, though like many I enjoy rowdiness from time to time. When I was about 10 or 12 my family and I moved to Carrollton, a decent-sized community I still could not point out on a map. I lived there with my parents and two brothers, both younger than I, till I went to college.

I went to school at Abilene Christian University deep in West Texas. I took one look at the campus and decided ACU is where I wanted to be. Or perhaps I just didn't want to visit any more deans.

My freshman year I had narrowed the options I had down to two fields: veterinarian school or journalism. One look at the math requirements was all it took to permanently send me down the path of the pen for four years and beyond, graduating over the summer with a bachelor's degree in science.

I learned news writing, feature writing, creative writing, opinion writing - just about every form there is - through working for the school newspaper for three years or so. One form of writing I didn't learn was how to make an introduction to a wide audience.

In addition to all I learned of writing in college, I learned how to care for an iguana, my pet of choice. While I love dogs, they are too expensive for me to care for right now.

I bought my green iguana during my sophomore year and my roommate and I spent the better part of two days building a huge cage we subsequently destroyed on our move-out date. Joanna the iguana now resides in a tiny bird cage I am seeking to upgrade to a size more suitable for a reptile of her size.

So this is me in a sentence; a large, young man who enjoys writing, iguanas, and small towns. I hope to serve Brownsboro and Chandler with as much vigor as my iguana shows when I try to put her back in her tiny cage, as well as with honesty so vital to everyday life.

Editors note: Nathan is now the News Reporter of the Statesman and will cover area City Council meetings, school board meetings and write feature stories. If you have a story idea please give Nathan a call, 903-852-7641.